Why Is It So Hard to Get Started With Therapy?
Struggling to get started with therapy? Here are expert tips on making time for therapy, how to stop procrastinating, and how to stay motivated while searching for a therapist.
If you have questions, ASK them as early as possible, ideally during a free consultation. Your questions can help both you and the therapist better understand whether or not you’d be a good fit and whether they know another therapist who’d be an even better fit for you.
And no matter how many sessions you’ve attended, assuming you’re not court-ordered to attend therapy, therapy is 100% voluntary and you can stop seeing any therapist at any time. Don’t waste your time and money on therapy that’s not going anywhere for you!
We therapists often process several hours of additional paperwork for a new client across the first month of sessions, so it’s a bummer for us when clients quit in the first few sessions. When we invite you to become a client, we’re invested in you, so again - please ask any questions you may have as early as possible. It’s perfectly normal to think up new questions after starting therapy, but you can save yourself time and money, too if you ask your initial questions...initially!
Can’t think of any questions to ask? Try these:
1. How long do your clients tend to stay in therapy, and how often do they attend?
2. What do you do differently than some other therapists?
You don’t need a psychology degree to ask those questions, listen to their answers, and get a gut feeling about the person answering. If you’re not feeling it, you can always thank them for their time and move on to another therapist. If you’re just not sure, you can always tell them you might get in touch with them again but need time to think.
And do consider your budget. There is a wide range of therapists available for different things at different costs. There are plenty of low-cost clinics across the U.S. where you might be able to work with a graduate student intern therapist for a fraction of the cost of a licensed therapist.
Oh, and keep that note to yourself by your side until you find the right therapist for you.
And if you’re ever in crisis, please seek crisis support by visiting mentalhealth.gov, calling 9-1-1, or the national suicide help line at 1-800-273-TALK.